Norman Francis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norman Francis
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Francis receives Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2006, from George W. Bush
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Norman Christopher Francis
March 20, 1931 Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Xavier University of Louisiana (BS) Loyola University New Orleans (JD) |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Employer | Xavier University of Louisiana |
| Known for | First Black student at Loyola University New Orleans; first lay president of Xavier. |
| Board member of | UNCF, ETS |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Norman Christopher Francis (born March 20, 1931) is an important American educator. He was the president of Xavier University of Louisiana for many years, from 1968 to 2015. He was the first Black and first non-priest (called a lay person) to lead the school. He was also only the second African American to be president of a Catholic university in the United States.
Francis also helped lead the rebuilding of Louisiana after major storms. He was the chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. This state agency worked to plan the recovery after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. For his many contributions, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can get in the U.S. He also received the Laetare Medal in 2019. He has been given 35 honorary degrees from colleges across the country.
Contents
Norman Francis's Life Story
Early Life and School Days
Norman Francis was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. His parents were not wealthy and had not finished high school. His father was a barber who rode his bike to work every day. Norman earned money by shining shoes on the main street.
His parents strongly believed in education. They made sure Norman and his three sisters and brother went to Catholic schools. They rarely missed a day. Norman once said, "I had to have a fever, and really be ill before I dared to try to miss school." His parents also made sure they attended church regularly.
His brother, Joseph Abel Francis, later became an important church leader.
After finishing St. Paul High School in 1948, Norman thought about joining the military. But a teacher helped him get a scholarship to Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. This scholarship involved working in the university library. He repaired damaged books there. By his last year, he was the night supervisor of library services.
Norman was an excellent student. He was president of his class all four years. In his senior year, he was chosen to lead the entire student body. He earned his first degree from Xavier in 1952. After that, he made history by becoming the first African-American student at Loyola University New Orleans. He studied law there and earned his law degree in 1955.
He later said he was accepted at Loyola partly because he knew some of the Jesuit priests from his work with Catholic colleges. After graduating with honors, he started practicing law. However, he soon decided law wasn't for him. He realized that education could help more people. He said, "The future belongs to those who are educated, so I turned to education."
A Career in Education
From 1956 to 1957, Francis served in the United States Army. After that, he returned to help integrate federal agencies.
Around that time, he helped a Xavier student who was arrested for trying to integrate a lunch counter. These experiences helped him choose a career in education.
In 1961, during the time leading up to the Civil Rights Movement, he was the dean of men at Xavier University. He played a key role in a big decision. Xavier agreed to house the Freedom Riders in a campus dorm. The Freedom Riders were a group of people, both Black and white, who traveled together. They were testing a Supreme Court decision that banned discrimination on buses and trains. Federal Marshals flew them to New Orleans after they were attacked in Alabama.
Because of his strong academic record, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament offered him a job. This religious group runs Xavier University. He accepted the role of dean of men in 1957. From there, he moved up quickly in leadership roles at the university. He became director of student services in 1963 and assistant to the president in 1964. By 1967, he was the executive vice president.
In 1968, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament made him president of the university. He was the first non-priest, male, and Black head of Xavier. It was a historic moment. He accepted the presidency on April 4, the same day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
For the next 47 years, Francis led Xavier University's growth. The number of students more than tripled. The school added many new courses and expanded its campus. He oversaw a major expansion of buildings and a 35 percent increase in students.
On September 2, 2014, Francis announced he would retire in June 2015. He had served as president for 47 years.
Awards and Recognition
Norman Francis has held many important leadership positions. He was chairman of the board for the Educational Testing Service. He also led The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. He was president of the United Negro College Fund.
He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has received 35 honorary degrees from different universities. The Chronicle of Higher Education once named him among the 100 most effective college presidents.
In December 2006, Francis received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian award in the United States.
On November 21, 2008, people celebrated his 40th year as President of Xavier University. The event was called "Legacy for a Legend." Bill Cosby hosted the gala, and Gladys Knight performed.
On May 19, 2019, Francis received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame. This is a very important award for American Catholics.
After the George Floyd protests in 2020, the city of New Orleans honored Francis. They renamed a street that was previously named for Jefferson Davis. Starting January 1, 2021, it became Norman C. Francis Parkway. This road runs by the southern end of Xavier University.
Francis has received many other honors, including:
- Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (a special honor from Pope John Paul II) - 2000
- The Times Picayune Loving Cup of 1991 (for unselfish community work)
- Benjamin Smith Award from the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Louisiana - 1990
- Whitney M. Young Jr. Award from the National Urban League of Greater New Orleans - 1982
- Torch of Liberty Award from the Anti-Defamation League - 1971
Personal Life
Norman Francis was married to Blanche from 1955 until she passed away in 2015. They had six children together.
He became a Knight of Malta in 1991. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Affiliations and Service
Norman Francis has served on many important boards and committees. He was president of the United Negro College Fund. He also chaired the board of directors for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He was a member of the National Commission on Excellence in Education.
He was part of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He also served on the board of trustees for the Catholic University of America. He was a member of the board of directors for the National Catholic Council for Interracial Justice.
